‘Broadway for Sandy’: A Holiday Concert

Media Contact: David Perry
415.676.7007
news@davidperry.com

www.broadwayforsandy.com

WHAT: ‘Broadway for Sandy’: A Holiday Concert
BRAVO TV personalities in San Francisco benefit
WHEN: Monday, December, 10: 8pm
WHERE: The Elbo Room (647 Valencia Street, San Francisco)
DETAILS:

Alissa Simmons, Marcus Lovingood and Hermione Way from BRAVO’s ‘Start-Ups: Silicon Valley’ hope to raise $50,000.00 for Hurricane Sandy Victims by hosting a Broadway Benefit Concert in San Francisco. This exclusive, 100-seat only holiday concert event will be performed at the Elbo Room in San Francisco and bring together Top Broadway Stars and Technology heavyweights to ring in the season and raise money to help Sandy recovery. Proceeds raised will go toward the American Red Cross and Occupy Sandy disaster programs specifically allocated for Hurricane Sandy Relief. Broadway headliners will perform classic and contemporary Holiday tunes to a live orchestra with a catered fundraising reception to kick off the evening and a star studded VIP after party. Music Directed by: Jesse Vargas.

BROADWAY PERFORMERS:
Kate Rockwell – Currently the lead in Bring it On, Legally Blonde, Grease, NBC’s – You’re the One That I Want
Darius De Haas –Children of Eden, Dreamgirls
Nick Blaemire — Godspell, Glory Days
Pip – Star of the second season of The Voice on Team Adam Levine
Nathan Parrett – Star of the second season of The Voice on Team Adam Levine
Foster Miller – Rocky Horror, Girl From Hell: The Musical


Futureleap Media:

Marcus Lovingood’s online Production and Distribution Company will use the powers of social media to virally distribute the live album and documentary series about the making-of ‘Broadway For Sandy’ to be released on Facebook before Christmas. Producer Marcus Lovingood hopes to raise an exceedingly large amount of donations from record sales and merchandising, using the powers of viral video and Facebook fanbase building to raise money for Americans in need, as reflected in his successful social media campaigns for President Obama in the 2012 Presidential race.

Estate of Thomas M. Dross Makes Major Long Term Gift to AIDS Emergency Fund

Media Contact: David Perry
415.693.0583
news@davidperry.com

www.aef-sf.org

1 December 2012 – San Francisco, CA: The estate of San Francisco resident Thomas M. Dross intends to donate $1 million to the AIDS Emergency Fund (www.aef-sf.org) to be used over several years including for the solicitation of ongoing challenge grants. The gift was announced today in San Francisco as part of the 30th Anniversary gala benefiting the acclaimed nonprofit that provides ongoing support to the AIDS/HIV population.

“The AIDS pandemic has been with us for more than 30 years, and those living with the disease continue to need care, funding and support, especially as they age,” said AIDS Emergency Fund Executive Director Mike Smith. “This bequest, while the largest single donation ever made to AEF, does not eliminate the continuing and growing need for funding. In light of the continuing financial crisis and the challenge faced by the AIDS/HIV community to raise vital funds, we are especially grateful for the incredible generosity of the Dross estate, and the message it will send: AIDS is not over, and we still need your help in the ongoing fight.” Dross, of Palm Springs and San Francisco, died following a sudden heart attack on January 7, 2012. Originally from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Dross moved to San Francisco in the 1970s where he became a well-known advertising and marketing professional, working for such prestigious firms as Pritikin & Associates. Later, he was the founder and owner of one of San Francisco’s most popular financial district restaurants, “Upstairs, Downstairs.” He attended Widner College in Chester Pennsylvania and received his degree from the University of Pennsylvania. As a youth, He went to St. Mary’s Parochial school, St. Matthew’s High School and was a member of St. Mary’s Church all in Conshohocken. Dross is survived by a family of friends in both Palm Springs and San Francisco and family in Pennsylvania.

“Tom was one of the kindest and most generous people we ever met,” said a joint statement from Alfredo Casuso and David Perry, co-executors of the Dross will. “His will stipulated that the main beneficiaries of his will would be AIDS charities. There is no greater example of the ‘San Francisco Model’ of AIDS care than the AIDS Emergency Fund. We look forward, over the next few years, to working with AEF to make sure these funds get put to good use.

The AIDS Emergency Fund responds compassionately to the AIDS crisis by providing immediate, short-term financial assistance to help people disabled by HIV/AIDS to cover their basic human needs and stabilize their living situations. The AIDS Emergency Fund operates with low overhead to raise and distribute funding to those most in need who are experiencing genuine emergencies or have an opportunity to permanently stabilize their living situation. Short-term financial assistance from AEF is a key element of San Francisco’s continuum of care, and AEF collaborates with other service providers to insure that clients access all available resources and assistance.

Through compassionate intervention by AEF, people living with HIV/AIDS can maintain access to medical care and drug therapies, avoid eviction and homelessness, and live with greater stability and dignity during their illness. For more information go to www.aef-sf.org

AIDS Emergency Fund to Unveil Engraved Boulder Dedicated to Sylvester in National AIDS Memorial Grove

Friday 10 am, Nov 30, 2012

Media Contact: Mike Smith
415-558-6999 x 7
Mikesmith@aef-sf.org

www.aef-sf.org

AIDS Emergency Fund has commissioned an engraved boulder to be added to the National AIDS Memorial in Golden Park in memory of Sylvester James, internationally acclaimed disco-era performer who died of AIDS in 1988. He, along with his backup singers, Two Tons O’ Fun (Martha Wash and Izora Rhoades) lit up the music charts in the late 1970s and were regular performance in the Castro vibrant early-80s dance scene.

Sylvester was one of the earliest performers to give his time to AIDS causes. Sylvester left the rights to his music royalties to AEF and Project Open Hand. His legacy continues to feed and house people battling HIV/AIDS more than 24 years after his death.

WHAT: Unveiling of memorial stone for Sylvester
WHEN: Friday November 30, 2012, 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM
WHERE:
National AIDS Memorial Grove, Golden Gate Park Corner of Middle Drive and Nancy Pelosi Way
WHO: Speakers include:
Mike Smith, Executive Director, AIDS Emergency Fund
Kevin Winge, Executive Director, Project Open Hand
John Cunningham, Executive Director, AIDS Memorial
Martha Wash

Miss Wash is a former Sylvester singer and nationally known dance diva (“It’s Raining Men”, “Everybody, Everybody.”) She is in San Francisco to perform and accept a Lifetime Achievement Award from AEF at their 30th Anniversary Gala in the Grove on Saturday, December 1, World AIDS Day.

Press is welcome. Modest refreshments provided.

Revolutionary Island: Tales of Cuban History and Culture

The Sarah and Darius Anderson Collection

January 19–March 24, 2013

www.svma.org

26 November 2012 – Sonoma, CA: “Nothing in Cuba is what it appears,” says Darius Anderson and he should know from his 25 plus years traveling to that fascinating island. From January 19-March 24, 2013, Anderson’s passion for Cuba will be reflected in a new exhibit coming to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art(www.svma.org). Revolutionary Island: Tales of Cuban History and Culture The Sarah and Darius Anderson Collection.

“A culture is expressed through its art,” said Kate Eilertsen, Executive Director of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. “The works in this exhibition provide a profound and realistic assessment of revolutionary to present-day Cuba. Some of the works are powerfully moving, like a series of near life-sized paintings of everyday Cuban people doing everyday things, but all under water. The impact comes when you find that every one of these people of all ages—men, women, even children—have died attempting to cross over by sea to Florida. This personalizes an ongoing tragedy still relevant today.”

The Sarah and Darius Anderson Collection demonstrates that passion with objects as diverse as paintings, sculpture, humidors and more. Through this dynamic and diverse collection viewers will see not only art work illustrating the desire to express non-conformity, or even a sly, knowing wink to the savvy viewer, but also the passion for baseball, love of tobacco and a collection of historic documents that will illustrate the stories that make up the culture and history of this island of revolution.

“Just the word Cuba evokes a passion within me that draws me back every time,” said Darius Anderson. “At the young age of fourteen my family introduced me to the adventures of Sonoma’s greatest son, Jack London. His love and interest fueled my obsession in all things Cuba. At age sixteen I learned that Jack traveled to Cuba on his honeymoon — I told myself that one day, I too would visit that exotic place. This is the land Christopher first landed in the new world. It’s history includes stories of great riches, heart-breaking poverty, battling ideologies, respect and love of the arts. Most importantly it is a history that is steeped in sugar, rum, tobacco and baseball — all my favorite vices.”

According to famous Cuban artist Ibrahim Miranda, “Our insular condition has been a decisive factor in our culture, influencing our myths, fantasies and our national psyche. The sensation of being isolated, separated from everyone, floating in the middle of the sea, has been a strong stimulus to the imagination of Cuban artists.”

This exhibition will feature Cuban artists: Rene Francisco, Esterio Segura, Ruben Alpizar, Carlos Valera (musician) and many more.

With more than 1,000 members, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) is the largest visual arts organization in the San Francisco North Bay region. It was incorporated in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote the creation, exhibition, and collection of fine arts, to provide a venue for art exhibition in Sonoma, and to offer educational opportunities for people of all ages. It occupies an 8,000-square-foot space at 551 Broadway, just one-half block south of the historic Sonoma Plaza. The Museum purchased the building in early 2001, and completed extensive renovations in March 2004.

A special members’ preview will be held Friday, January 18 at 5pm. Special programs and events will be held throughout the exhibition. The exhibition will open to the public Saturday, January 19, 2013. Museum hours are Wednesday–Sunday from 11am to 5pm. More information about the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is available at www.svma.org or by calling (707) 939-7862.